I finally found the right choke ammo combo and unfortunately the 3 1/2" pattern better than the 3".

It's deadly though.

Hey Bucko...I wanted to ask you about your shotgun/ammo combo. I use a similar setup and was wondering how far you would feel comfortable taking a shot? Also...are you shooting the 2-1/4 oz shot? Just wundrin'...

~ camo_junkie

Good luck to y'all!Camo_junkie---------------------------------------------

Hey Bucko...I wanted to ask you about your shotgun/ammo combo. I use a similar setup and was wondering how far you would feel comfortable taking a shot? Also...are you shooting the 2-1/4 oz shot? Just wundrin'...

~ camo_junkie[/quote]

I patterned it at 40 yds but I did shoot it a couple of times at 50 yds just to see what the pattern looked like and it still looked good. I felt like I could definetly kill one at that range.

However, I've never shot at a turkey over 30 or 35 yds so I don't know how comfortable I would be much past 50 yds.

I shoot the 3 1/2", 2 1/4oz, #5. I'm going to try the new 3" #7's though soon. I'd rather shoot the 3# if possible but so far the 3 1/2" has patterned better than any of the 3" hevi 13 loads. I also tried the 3" Mag Blend in the SBE II but it wasn't as good as the 3 1/2 either.

Here's three I've taken birds with that maybe new to the list. I live close to New York state and have hunted turkeys there since the 80s. I also hunted alot of grouse with bird dogs in the fall and trained them to behave after. Belgium Browning superlight 20ga O/U improved/mod 3", Rosi side by side 20ga improved/modified 3", Remington 1100 20ga 2 3/4", all with no sixs.

Oh yeah bonus gun, killed spring gobbler back in 1968 with 16 guage knickerbacher sided by side. Who knows what the chokes were, we didn't even wear camoflage then except for head net(some of us) and I was considered an innovator when I used a black garabage bag to keep my butt dry. I also tried a cople of 10ga that weighed a few back then.

Today I use 870s in 20 or 12 and occasionally my 1100 that I used for most of the years in between. 3" shells 5s backed by 6s.

I shoot a Franchi (made by Benelli ) 20 Ga, and I use #6 shot Hevi 13 and a Hevi shot choke tube with a .575 constriction. I have taken 10 birds with this combo. I will never carry another 12 Ga. Again. I have had clean quick kills, the longest was 50+ yards. Absolutely fantastic, and the gun only weighs 5.5 pounds.